Commissioners hear STIP update for District 5

At the August 15 Hot Springs County Commissioners board meeting, WYDOT representatives District Engineer, Pete Hallsten, District Construction Engineer, Randy Merritt, and Public Relations Specialist, Cody Beers gave their annual State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) update for District 5. The purpose of the presentation was to gain public input on their work, to find out what local agencies are working on, and to provide an overview of WYPO and the Proposed STIP. 

According to WYDOT’s overview, they serve 6,731 miles of roads and 2,805 bridges. They discussed the matter of cost escalation. Some examples of this were changes from one to two years ago: hot plant mix was $36-45, today it is $65-75 per ton or binder was $450-600 and today it is $900 to $1,000 per ton. It reached a high of $1,500 per ton. “Bottom line: Increases in federal funding is not covering the cost of inflation.”

Regarding past, present and future projects, for fiscal year 2022, the STIP amount was $336.2 million with 103 projects to let to contract, but it was $368.2 million in let to contract. For 2023 the STIP amount is $350.2 million with 99 planned projects and 84 anticipated with an anticipated $372.2 million. For 2024 there is approximately $320 million in STPI with 97 planned projects. WYDOT delayed approximately $70 million in the fiscal year 2023 to 2024. Based on currency prices, they had to either move projects back or reduce the scope to account for approximately $100 million over budget in fiscal year 2024.

According to WYDOT’s total anticipated formula funding for Wyoming says that there is over $2.2 billion of federal money from fiscal year 2022 to 2026. The national average of funding is 70% state with 30% federal, however for Wyoming it is 71% federal and 29% from the state. Generally, $100 million of additional funding per year and requests matching funds. Congress must still appropriate funding for most core programs on a yearly basis. They added, “Once federal funds start to become available, the agency will use its Guiding Principles to determine the best use of funds to achieve the maximum benefit to Wyoming.”

They also discussed electric vehicle charging stations and how given the properties and land outs of the interstate in Wyoming, it was not feasible to set up charging stations every 50 miles along the routes. Also, according to WYDOT’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program plan overview, no state funds will be used to build or operate stations, the matching funds will be either private or from a local jurisdiction. There is no timeline set for charging stations as they are waiting to see how other states are approaching the use of the NEVI funds and they want to minimize risk to the department and state on the acquisition and operation of charging stations.

Regarding bridges, they planned to address 44 bridges in poor condition with an estimated construction cost of $76 million. This equates to approximately 45% of funding going to off-system bridges where they target the largest and most expensive bridges. In Thermopolis the Broadway bridge that crosses the Big Horn Ridge will have rehabilitation work done in 2025.

Future projects in Hot Springs County include slope flattening north of Thermopolis toward Worland with work starting in spring 2024. Also surface work near Kirby will occur and the start of reconstruction of Black Mountain Road. In 2026, a one inch mill overlay and chip seal will be done west of Thermopolis toward Meeteetse and Owl Creek. In 2027, they plan on doing surface work in Thermopolis on Broadway Street and also surface work near Gooseberry North. In 2028 surface work will be done on Grass Creek Road. In 2029, surface work will be done in the Wind River Canyon.

For Hot Springs County the total amount of projects for 2023-2028, which include transportation, communications, transit and aeronautics is $41,940,000. 

Regarding recent local projects, WYDOT performed paving in the Moneta to Waltman road, worked on the Boysen Dam and Wind River Canyon slides, performed maintenance chip sealing on US 26/287 and in Meeteetse (WY290)  and Lovell (US310 and WY37).

District Engineer, Pete Hallsten, took comments from the public. Concerned citizen who identified himself as J.W. presented his concerns about needing longer turning lanes in both directions at the Wedding of the Waters boat ramp area. Regarding recent weekend activity there, J.W. said “It looked like a flea market out there. You guys gotta do a better job and plan ahead because the traffic on the highway plus the people running out of there, that’s getting outrageous.”  

J.W. continued and explained about his drive over the Beartooth Mountains and described the difference of the road quality in Montana compared to crossing the Wyoming state boundary. Hallsten replied to J.W. with explaining that that road is currently not their highway to maintain as it is a park road. Hallsten added, “But one of the issues that may come before the Highway Commission is whether or not the state of Wyoming should take all of the Beartooth Highway.”

Tricia McPhie gave the Public Health update and presented a request for the approval of Amendment 1 to the Agreement with Wyoming Department of Family Services and Hot Springs County Increasing the Amount from $20,000 to $40,000 and Extending to fiscal year 23-24. McPhie noted that it is the same amount of money each year, only extended one additional year. The commissioners voted and passed the approval of the amendment.

Lisa Mueller of MC2 gave a presentation to the commissioners about her company’s services as a grant writer and to collaborate together on finding funding for various Hot Springs County projects. Chairman Tom Ryan expressed interest in Mueller’s presentation and discussed with her their Wyoming Business Council’s Business Ready Grant project that would utilize the old airport property. The cost for the first 10 hours would be $850 as a package. Chairman Ryan said that they could “get their feet wet” and use the first 10 hours of a trial run. The commissioners voted and passed the approval to sign a contract between Mueller’s MC2 and the commissioners for the first 10 hours to do grant writing.

Shane Rankin of Road & Bridge held a discussion with the commissioners about the WYDOT High-Risk Rural Roads Grant Application for the installation of guard rails on Missouri Flat Road. Rankin applied for this grant two years prior and was denied. The grant is for $100,000 and has a 9.51% match. Rankin said he has the funds available to produce the match. Rankin said, “Crash data from WYDOT shows the Missouri Flat area is a concern to install a guardrail.” The commissioners took no formal action but told Rankin “yes” to apply for the grant again.

County Planner Bo Bowman presented the Replat of Lot 1 for the Shaffer Acres Subdivision. This new document is an amendment showing some improvement in the design of Lot 1 and is consistent with the previous plat. The commissioners voted and passed the approval for Chairman Ryan and County Clerk Becky Kersten to sign. 

In other business, the commissioners voted and passed the approval of the TextMyGov Two Year Contract for $5,250 for year 1 and $3,500 annually thereafter and the approval of Standard Operating Procedures for Audio and Video Recordings. Additionally, the commissioner voted and passed the approval of the Ratification of the Wyoming Airport Improvement Program Certificat of State Grant-in-Aid for $2,500, and two Federal Financial Reports for Federal Aviation Administration where zero was spent.